In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

© ANDCO A/S, 2024. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Parliament under conditions. Use or reproduction is prohibited without prior explicit permission from the respective right holders.

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Dutch (Belgium)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Turkish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Swedish (Finland)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Luxembourgish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - French (Belgium)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - German (Luxembourg)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - German (Austria)

At a glance: the 20th anniversary of the biggest EU enlargement; President Metsola visit to Malta and Europe’s Days.

News in Brief – 30/04/2024 - English

In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you. © ANDCO A/S, 2024. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Parliament under conditions. Use or reproduction is prohibited without prior explicit permission from the respective right holders.

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Valencian

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Galician

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Basque

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot - Catalan

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Radio spot

At a glance: the first ever EU rules on combating violence against women; the EU Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities; and a new law to improve air quality.

News in Brief – 29/04/2024 - English

At a glance: Europe Day at the European Parliament in Strasbourg; Parliament’s final plenary session before the European elections; and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement.

News in Brief – 27/04/2024 - English

It’s time to vote! Between 6 and 9 June this year, millions of EU citizens will help shape the future of the European Union by voting in the European elections. The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU body and the European elections are one of the biggest democratic events in the world. Join us in this episode as we take a closer look at how the seats are divided amongst member states.

The European elections explained: how are the seats divided?

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the single European market.

The EU ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

Food safety - 8th parliamentary term

The Digital Single Market strategy aims to open up digital opportunities for people and business and enhance Europe's position as a world leader in the digital economy. In this framework, a new legislative package for the modernisation of the EU copyright rules is presented by the Commission in September 2016.

A Digital Single Market (DSM) is one in which the free movement of persons, services and capital is ensured and where the individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence. 
The European Commission has identified the completion of the Digital Single Market (DSM) as one of its 10 political priorities. 
Among its directives, a new directive on copyright in the digital single market. The purpose is to adapt EU copyright legislation to the digital environment, which is quickly changing the way copyright-protected works and content are created, produced, distributed and exploited in the European Union.

Digital single market - Copyright directive - 8th parliamentary term

The CETA negotiations were launched in May 2009 and concluded in September 2014. The EU and Canada signed the agreement on 30 October 2016. In 2015 the EU imported goods from Canada worth €28.3 billion and exported goods to it worth €35.2 billion, a figure that is expected to rise by more than 20% when the agreement is implemented in full.

The CETA will remove customs duties, end restrictions on access to public contracts, open-up the services market, offer predictable conditions for investors and help prevent illegal copying of EU innovations and traditional products. 
In response to parliamentary pressure, the controversial investor-state-dispute settlement mechanism was replaced by the Investment Court System so as to ensure government control over the choice of arbitrators and enhance transparency.

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

Volkswagen, the German car manufacturer, has acknowledged that many millions of its cars sold worldwide have been specially equipped to trick emission tests, so as to appear less polluting.

Long before VW’s emissions test-cheating software was revealed, MEPs repeatedly urged that car emissions testing should take account of real-world driving conditions, so as to end obvious discrepancies between official and real consumption and emissions figures.

Car emissions - 8th parliamentary term

From July to December 2017, Estonia holds the Presidency of the EU Council for the first time, following the Maltese and preceding the Bulgarian Presidency.

The&nbsp; Presidency of the Council rotates among the EU Member States every 6 months. During the 6-month period, the presidency chairs meeting at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's&nbsp; work in the Council.

Estonian Presidency

Since the onset of the economic crisis, the EP has strongly supported the creation of a Youth Guarantee scheme, which was finally adopted in April 2013 as the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

The Youth Guarantee is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, traineeship, within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

The Youth Guarantee has become a reality across the EU and has helped to improve the lives of millions of young Europeans.

Youth Employment

EU citizens are becoming increasingly concerned that all kinds of production systems and other activities should be sustainable.Animal welfare is an important aspect of sustainability,and also of product quality, and may result in consumers refusing to buy products. 

The welfare of an individual is its state as regards its attempts to cope with its environment. Welfare includes feelings and health and can be measured scientifically. It is a biological concept, quite different from rights, and refers only to living animals.

Animal welfare (2019 - 2020)

<center>Image: ©Clara</center>

 

International Women’s Day is held every year on 8 March. Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union.

Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treates have helped shore up this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.

On this occassion, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo from the Spanish women’s national football team, which won the 2023 World Cup addressed the EP Plenary in Strasbourg on 12 March 2024.

President Metsola said International Women’s Day is not only a moment to recognise the achievements of women and girls across the world. It should also be a call to action to strengthen gender equality across all spheres of our society. Seeing it as an invitation for societies to do better, President Metsola said: “The time is now for the European Union to lead by example - to set standards in criminalising violence against women, to improve access to justice, and to ratify the Istanbul Convention before the end of this term.

International Women’s Day

Croatia officially joined the EU on 1 July 2013.&nbsp;Croatia became&nbsp;the 20th&nbsp;member of the eurozone on January 1, 2023&nbsp;with the adoption fo the euro.

Croatia borders Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia and has been an independent country since 1991. Croatia is a parliamentary republic in which the prime minister and the president represent the executive power and the state at home and abroad.

Croatia has 11 MEPs in the European Parliament.

EU - Croatia

The Republic of Estonia obtained it's independence in 1991 and entered the EU on the 1st May 2004

After the signature of a European agreement and the filing of an application in 1995, the accession negotiations began in March 1998. Reforms have been undertaken during all the accession process to improve the national economic performance. The entry of Estonia in the EU was approved by referendum by a large majority on 14th September 2003.

Estonia has 6 MEPs, is represented by 4 voices to the Council and it adopted the Euro on the 1st January 2011. On 15 November 2007, the application of the Schengen acquis to Estonia is approved in plenary session.

EU - Estonia (8th parliamentary term)

The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union.
The Netherlands is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995.

The Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch. There are 26 members of the European Parliament from the Netherlands.

EU - Netherlands

The EU is currently updating its 1995 trade defence law to counter unfair trade practices and reflect the changing needs of European businesses, workers and consumers. 

The proposed measures target unfair trade practices from non-EU countries and complement the recently approved anti-dumping rules focusing on third countries that interfere heavily in the economy - focusing on China.

EU trade defence

Colombia is a key partner for the European Union in Latin America.

The EU's relations with Colombia are based on political dialogue, trade cooperation, joint efforts to achieve sustainable development and support to peace-building.

In particular, the European Union has supported peace negotiations between the Colombian authorities and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) since the very beginning. The fight against organised crime, the respect for human rights, climate change and the protection of biodiversity are common challenges that the European Union and Colombia wish to address. However, the highest priority for both parties now is the pursuit of stable and lasting peace.

EU - Colombia

Taking into account technological developments on telecommunications markets and changes in consumer demands and habits, and in order to stimulate the investment necessary for reaching the connectivity targets for 2025, the European Commission proposed the Electronic Communications Code on 14 September 2016. The Code establishes common EU rules and objectives on regulating the telecom industry. It defines how providers of networks and/or services can be regulated by national authorities.

&nbsp;

The ITRE Committee voted to open trilogue negotiations (a decision confirmed in October II 2017 plenary session) and a first meeting with the Council has taken place. Parliament and Council (EU co-legislators) provisionally agreed on a reform of EU telecom rules that aims to boost the investments needed to make 5G connectivity available for all EU citizens by 2020, enhance protection of users and introduce a cap on disproportionate fees on calls between EU countries. According to the provisional deal, the fees for intra-EU calls are capped to 19 cents for phone calls and 6 cents for text messages.

Telecom

Diplomatic relations between the EU and the U.S. date back to 1953.

 
The relationship between the EU and the United States is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world. The EU and U.S. are the biggest economic and military powers in the world, dominate global trade, play the leading roles in international political relations.

EU - USA - 8th Parliamentary term

EU rules are needed to better protect and support whistle-blowers and their role in revealing serious breaches of the public interest, such as corruption, miscarriages of justice, tax avoidance, lack of protection for food safety or the environment and attacks on social, human or workers’ rights.

Whistle-blowers have proved to be a crucial resource in revealing harm to the public interest.

Protection of whistleblowers - 8th parliamentary term

EP President participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people, at the Romanian National Opera. She meets with H.E. Mr. Nicolae Ciuca, President of the Senate of Romania, with H.E. Mr. Alfred Simonis, Acting President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, with H.E. Mr. Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania and with H.E. Mr. Marcel Ciolacu, Prime Minister of Romania.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Romania

EP President Metsola meets the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Jussi Halla-aho, the leaders of parliamentary group,  the Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo and they speak to the press. She also meets Finnish Members of the European Parliament and participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people.

Official visit of of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Finland

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Spain

President Metsola participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people and meets the President of the Government of the Region of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. She also receives the Award for European Values from the Foro España Civica.

Press conference - Driving licence rules

MEPs debate Mr Navalny’s death with Commission and Belgian Presidency representatives. They are expected to condemn the Russian regime and President Vladimir Putin, and discuss the dangerous situation facing opposition figures, journalists and human rights defenders in Russia. A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday

Plenary debate - The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action

Press conference - Geographical indications for wine and agri products

Parliament commemorates the life of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, featuring a plenary address by his wife Yulia Navalnaya.

Alexei Navalny, one of Russia’s most well-known anti-corruption activists, an opposition politician, 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate and an ardent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under mysterious circumstances in a remote penal colony in the Russian Arctic on Friday 16 February, while serving a long prison sentence on trumped-up charges.

Plenary debate - Address by Yulia Navalnaya

Plenary discusses the latest ruling by the International Court of Justice regarding Israel and the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the 7 October attacks

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take a series of measures to prevent any acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, after South Africa filed an application against Israel at the court in December 2023. It also ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure  aid can reach  people in Gaza.

During the debate with the Council and the European Commission on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs also discuss the  allegations  that 12 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA ) were involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel. While several donor countries have suspended their UNRWA funding, the EU said it will take a decision in light of the outcome of the investigation announced by the UN and its subsequent  actions. In a statement on 29 January, the Commission said EU humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank will continue uninterrupted through partner organisations.

Plenary debate - War in Gaza

Press conference - Political advertising

Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law.

Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide.

Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. They will also be required to reinstate the environment they destroyed and compensate for the damage. Companies can also face fines of up to 5% of their worldwide turnover or 40 million euro.

Background

The new legislation aims to tackle the rising number of environmental crimes in the EU. Environmental crime is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world and is one of the main sources of income for organised crime alongside drugs, weapons and human trafficking.

Press conference -  Environmental crime directive

Press conference - Outcome of the MFF revision vote

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate and vote (on Wednesday) on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks.

Plenary debate - New rules on driving licences

MEPs debate with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde inflation, efforts to curb it, and possible interest rate cuts. During the annual plenary debate, MEPs concentrate on what happens next once inflation settles at the ECB’s 2% target and pay particular attention to the continuing significant divergences in inflation rates between member states. This is the last debate in the European Parliament for Ms Lagarde before the 6-9 June  European elections.

Plenary debate - European Central Bank: annual report 2023

Parliament’s Spokesperson holds a press briefing on the plenary session.

Last-minute briefing

EP Press Service organizes a technical briefing for media on how to cover the 6-9 June European elections. It includes information on the Elections Press Tool Kit, “unfinished business” and first milestones of the next legislature, “What Europe Does For Me” database, European election data and the election days and night

100 days to the European elections

EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) exchange views on the inhuman detention and death of Alexei NAVALNY, 2021 Sakharov Price Laureate.

MEPs also discuss the state of Russia’s democratic opposition movement ahead of the country’s presidential elections scheduled for 15-17 March 2024, as well as the situation of all those Russian opposition voices currently behind bars.

The following guests give testimonies to MEPs: Leonid Volkov, Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Anti-Corruption Foundation: Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation, wife of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza: Vladimir Milov, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia

AFET/DROI debate on Alexei Navalny´s death

EP President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze

EP Plenary session - Fight against money laundering and terrorist financing: listing Russia as a high risk third country in the EU

Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs 
AUDIO CHANNEL :  ORIGINAL = BG  ;  BG = ORIGINAL

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

EMPL

Committee on Development

DEVE

The rise of religious intolerance in Europe (debate)

Request for waiver of immunity

Composition of committees and delegations

Council position at first reading

The rise of religious intolerance in Europe (continuation of debate)

World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health

Resumption of the sitting

Voting time

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Consequences of the devastating forest fires in the Amazon and the importance of the Amazon for climate change

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

Dates of forthcoming sittings

Closure of the sitting

Adjournment of the session

Plenary session

Committee on Budgetary Control

CONT

Constitutive meeting of Delegations for relations with the Pan-African Parliament

DPAP

Committee meeting on International Trade
AUDIO CHANNEL : ORIGINAL = BG ; BG = ORIGINAL

Committee meeting on International Trade

INTA

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency

Recent devastating floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Topical debate (Rule 169) - Taxing the super-rich to end poverty and reduce inequalities: EU support to the G20 Presidency’s proposal

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support

Prevention of drug-related crimes, their effect on European citizens and the need for an effective European response

2024 Annual Rule of law report

Urgent need to revise the medical devices regulation

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150)

Protecting the EU budget and ensuring that EU funds do not benefit entities or individuals linked to terrorist or Islamist movement

Explanations of votes

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Press conference by Tineke STRIK (Greens/EFA, NL), rapporteur, Michał WAWRYKIEWICZ (EPP, PL), Thijs REUTEN (S&D, NL), Fabienne KELLER (Renew, FR) and Konstantinos ARVANITIS (The Left, EL), on the situation in Hungary and the rule of law

Constitutive meeting of Delegations for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Briefing The Left by Manon AUBRY (The Left,FR) and Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left,DE), Co-Presidents and Ilaria SALIS (The Left,IT)

Briefing Greens/EFA by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA,NL) and Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA,DE), Co-Presidents

Briefing Renew Europe by Valérie HAYER (Renew,FR), President

Briefing S&D by Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, (S&D,ES), President and Klára DOBREV (S&D, HU)

Briefing EPP by Manfred WEBER (EPP,DE), President

Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon

The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe

Strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration

Corrigenda (Rule 251) (action taken)

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

Outcome of the Summit of the Future: transforming global governance for building peace, promoting human rights and achieving the sustainable development goals

Situation in Sudan

Explanations of vote

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI

Committee on Transport and Tourism

TRAN

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Kristen MICHAL, Estonian Prime Minister

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Kristen MICHAL, Estonian Prime Minister

FMA Management Committee meeting

Bureau Working Group on Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity and Information Security constitutive meeting

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Reem Al HASHIMY, United Arab Emirates Minister of State for International Cooperation

Bureau Working Group Communication, Outreach & Research constitutive meeting

Joint Procurement on access to a multilingual video-conferencing system and remote simultaneous interpretation services

Nikolaos ANADIOTIS in the EP in Brussels

EMPL - Exchange of views with the Executive Directors of the Agencies under the EMPL remit

André ROUGE in the Ep in Brussels

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor

AGRI - Public Hearing on Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture

DEVE - The humanitarian situation in Lebanon - Exchange of views with the Commission and humanitarian partners

TRAN - Presentation of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council

Young Political Leaders of Ukraine - Module 1 : Getting to know the EU and its institutions

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Johan FLODERUS, Swedish diplomat

Euroscola

How is the war in Ukraine impacting the EU? What more can the EU do to help Ukraine defend itself and end Russian aggression? Parliament will debate these issues. Other items on the plenary agenda include harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, proposals to change how MEPs are elected and new rules for a common charger for phones and electronic devices. All that and more coming up in Strasbourg.

Coming up in Strasbourg: Ukraine, AI and a common phone charger

After a year of grassroots events, ideas submitted on the multilingual digital platform, discussions and debates, proposals from the Conference on the Future of Europe will be presented to EU institutions. Citizens have been at the heart of the process and the conclusions represent their vision for the EU of tomorrow. The institutions have promised to follow up on the Conference – turning the proposals into concrete policy. The final event will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Europe Day, 9 May, exactly a year after the Conference was launched.

9 May: The Conference's conclusions are coming!

The Conference on the Future of Europe is drawing to a conclusion. The Conference plenary brought panel representatives together with members of the European and national parliaments, EU institutions, civil society groups, social partners and representatives of local and regional authorities. They put finishing touches to citizens’ proposals on European values and democracy, migration and the EU’s place in the world. Plenary also debated recommendations on health, climate change, the economy, culture and digital transformation.

Conference plenary hones citizens' proposals for a better EU

Parliament called on the EU to do more to protect children and young people fleeing the war in Ukraine. MEPs voted to update rules on the EU’s critical energy infrastructure, to bring them into line with Green Deal targets. They also called for more transparency in small companies to help close the gender pay gap.

Plenary highlights: Ukraine child refugees, energy and equal pay

The European Parliament is set to formally endorse a deal on the Data Governance Act. The legislation aims to further the potential of big data and artificial intelligence for European citizens and businesses. MEPs want to facilitate and increase trust in data-sharing across the EU. They’ve demanded tough rules on privacy and good practice, as they look to foster innovation and efficiency. But what exactly is 'big data' and how can it be used?

Harnessing big data to deliver the services of tomorrow

77% of people in the EU would rather repair their broken household goods than replace them. Parliament is pushing for the “right to repair” in the EU, which would encourage manufacturers to make it easier for consumers to get appliances repaired rather than buying new ones.

Right to repair: a new life for consumer goods

Parliament will discuss the urgent situation in Ukraine, more than a month after Russia launched its illegal, unprovoked invasion. MEPs will vote on an update to the trans-European energy networks regulation, which will pave the way towards modern, independent, green energy infrastructure. Also on the agenda are women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan, the ’right to repair’ consumer goods and regulating the use of ‘big data’. All that and more, coming up in Strasbourg.

Coming up in Strasbourg: Ukraine, energy, women in Afghanistan

Our lives are dominated by online and digital exchanges. Be they for business or pleasure, buying or selling, keeping informed or simply communicating, digital markets and services have penetrated every corner of our lives. But who is keeping an eye on the platforms and companies that make it all possible? Is our personal data safe? How can better regulation be enforced? These are just some of the questions that two key pieces of legislation will answer: The Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act.

The digital sphere: ‘We are taking back control’

The Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe met to build on specific recommendations made by Citizens’ Panels on improving and reforming the EU. Members of the European Parliament were joined by counterparts from national assemblies and representatives from EU institutions, civil society and social partners. They worked with representatives from Citizens' Panels to move forward with proposals on the economy, digital transformation, health and education. Plenary also debated EU values and democracy, the bloc’s place in the world and climate change.

Plenary pushes forward citizens' ideas for tomorrow’s EU

The Conference on the Future of Europe returned to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this weekend. Representatives from European and national Citizens’ Panels championed their recommendations on improving the EU - and debated them with European and national lawmakers. The Conference plenary heard from Ukrainians about the war in their homeland, as it discussed the EU’s role in the world. The economy, migration, jobs and the digital transformation were also on the agenda - along with education, culture, youth and sport.

EU in the world and the economy: Citizens champion their ideas

Parliament debated how to handle the growing number of people fleeing Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. MEPs discussed the implications on EU security, defence and its role in the world. Members also called for an end to so-called golden passports and for better protection against foreign interference in European democracies.

Plenary highlights: Ukraine, women’s day and foreign interference

The European Union must be more determined to stop dangerous foreign attacks on democracy, that was the main conclusion of Parliament’s special committee on foreign interference in democratic processes. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, taking action has never been more important. Disinformation, elite capture, cyberattacks – the committee’s chair and report author say the EU needs to build up resilience.

Foreign interference: ‘The answer is more democracy’

The European Parliament has condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In an emergency sitting, MEPs called on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops and restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Members expressed their solidarity with Ukrainians and called for more support for the vulnerable. Parliament called for an even tougher EU response to the regime of Vladimir Putin.

Russian invasion of Ukraine: 'We will not look away'

European citizens have voted for 48 recommendations to help shape the EU of tomorrow. Some 200 participants were in Dublin for the third and final session of the European Citizens’ Panel on a stronger economy, social justice & jobs, education, culture & sport and digital transformation. Representatives will take the recommendations forward to the plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Economy, jobs, digitalisation, youth: Citizens make recommendations in Dublin

Parliament voiced support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's troop build-up. It also debated the link between EU funds and the rule of law and called for investigations into the use of Pegasus spyware in the EU. MEPs also called for better cross border cancer care and access to medicines.

Plenary highlights: Russia, rule of law and Pegasus spyware

The EU has some of the highest toy safety standards in the world, but MEPs are concerned that not all toys sold in the EU come up to scratch. With more and more toys bought online from outside the bloc, MEPs say the 2009 rules need updating.

Parliament calls for stricter toy safety rules

European citizens voted 40 recommendations, which they will debate with the EU institutions, governments, MPs and civil society at the next Conference Plenary in Strasbourg. Participants met in Maastricht, for the third and final session of the panel on migration and the EU’s role in the world.

Migration, foreign policy: Citizens make recommendations in Maastricht

Parliament will debate relations with Russia and the military threat against Ukraine. MEPs will vote on proposals to put the EU at the centre of the fight against cancer. They will also discuss offshore renewable energy, protecting workers from harmful chemicals and safer toys for children.

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